By Prosper Mene
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central has petitioned the Nigerian Senate to launch an immediate investigation into the unresolved case of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, whose death in 2018 was linked to years of alleged sexual abuse by her uncle and cousin.
The move, presented during Wednesday’s plenary session, highlights ongoing failures in the justice system and renewed fears that influential figures are shielding the perpetrators from prosecution.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, known for her advocacy on women’s and children’s rights, submitted the petition on behalf of Inibehe Effiong Chambers, a prominent legal firm. “This petition is on the refusal to arrest and prosecute Victor and Andrew Ogbuja for the rape to death of a 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje,” she stated emphatically during the session. She accused certain individuals of attempting to “shield those responsible from accountability,” citing alleged interference, witness intimidation, and institutional lapses that have prolonged the family’s agony for seven years.
Ochanya’s story first gripped the nation in 2018, causing widespread outrage and calls for systemic reform. Born in Ogene-Amejo, Benue State, the young girl was sent at age five to live with her maternal aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, in pursuit of better educational opportunities. Tragically, what was meant to be a nurturing environment turned into a nightmare. According to court records and the petition, Ochanya endured repeated sexual assaults from age six onward by Andrew Ogbuja, her uncle and a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic and his son, Victor Ogbuja. The abuse, spanning seven years, led to severe health complications, including vaginal fistula and infections, culminating in her death on October 17, 2018, while she was a student at the Federal Government Girls College in Gboko.
The case’s legal journey has been marred by setbacks. In 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Felicia Ogbuja of child neglect, sentencing her to five months in prison without a fine option for failing to protect her niece despite awareness of the abuse. However, Andrew Ogbuja was acquitted by a Benue State High Court in a ruling that the state government has refused to appeal. Victor Ogbuja, who allegedly fled after the initial charges, remains at large, with the Nigeria Police Force criticized for not rearresting him. “Ochanya suffered severe violations for years, yet justice continues to be delayed and denied,” Akpoti-Uduaghan lamented, urging a broader review of how children’s rights cases are handled nationwide.
The Senate, under Deputy President Jibrin Barau, responded swiftly, referring the matter to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for urgent action. The committee is tasked with examining the allegations, assessing the status of legal proceedings, and potentially recommending a full-scale probe or compelling the Benue State Government to revisit the High Court acquittal. With no active court cases ongoing, the referral opens a critical legislative pathway to address what advocates describe as a “grievous act of injustice” that endangers other vulnerable children.
Inibehe Effiong, the petition’s lead counsel, emphasized in the document that the failures of the police and state authorities “pose a danger to innocent girls and women unaware of the predatory habits of the culprits.” Effiong called for the petition to also be forwarded to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for a comprehensive probe.
